Trumpeter Hall Daniels leads a finely balanced septet of top West Coast musicians on this 1955 session, recorded in Hollywood. Free of rigid “East Coast Vs. West Coast” labels,the music stands out for its clarity, swing, and solid musical substance.

Daniels is an accomplished studio arranger, used writing scores for motion pictures and noted work with Les Baxter. He contributes two original compositions alongside fresh arrangements of familiar standards. The ensemble features outstanding soloists including Dick Nash on trombone, Zoot Sims on tenor sax, and Bob Gordon on baritone, supported by a tight and experienced rhythm section.

This recording captures a moment when Los Angeles studio musicians combined technical excellence with modern jazz expression, marking an early and confident step by Jump Records into the modern jazz field.

—Jordi Pujol (From the inside liner notes of FSRCD 1085)